Live Here - St. Joseph is carefully nestled on the southern tip of what has been termed "The Riviera of the Midwest." This deepwater port town is a growing resort community – The lakeshore is peppered with remarkable sand dune formations and lined further inland with a lush countryside that produces some of the nation's finest orchards and vineyards.

2009 Report on Lake Boulevard Bluff Evaluation

A study was conducted by Soil and Materials Engineers, Inc. in mid-July, 2009. This evaluation consisted of the existing coastal bluff along Lake Boulevard between Park Street and Water Street. To read the report in its entirety, please click here.

Crime Prevention Information Line - Call (269) 985-0300 to hear how you can help yourself and your neighborhood avoid becoming a victim of various crimes that have occurred in our City. Seasonal crime prevention and safety tips are also given out on this line which is updated several times a month.

The Water Department Customer Service Office generates approximately 5,000 bills per month. In addition, they are responsible for processing payments, setting up new accounts, maintaining billing and payment records, arranging for final meter reads when service is terminated and arranging for shut-offs of delinquent accounts.

Summer tax bills are due July 1, but are payable through September 15 without penalty. Summer taxes not paid by September 15 are assessed a 4% penalty. Winter tax bills are due December 1, but are payable through February 14 without penalty. Winter taxes not paid by February 14 are assessed a 3% late fee.

Work Here - St. Joseph has become well known for its beautiful location along Lake Michigan, its quality public school system, its health care system, its beaches, parks, and other natural amenities. The presence of many large corporations causes the city's population to triple during the average workday.

Chamber of Commerce

The City of St. Joseph is proud to affiliate itself with many different engines of economic development and growth. If you have any questions regarding the Chambers of Commerce in St. Joseph, please feel free to contact the City, and we will be glad to answer any questions.

All rental property registrations and inspections are managed by the Inspections Department. If you have any questions regarding Zoning or Planning in the City of St. Joseph please visit the Zoning Department's webpage. If you have still any further questions regarding rental property, please contact the Inspections Department using the contact information located on their webpage and we will be happy to address your concerns.

Other Links

Play Here - Looking for something fun to do? St. Joseph has it all with an abundance of parks and recreational facilities that cater to a variety of enthusiasts' tastes. Set out for an afternoon of fishing, laze on one of our many beaches, take a stroll along picturesque trails, or hit the skate park. Whatever you're after, you'll find it here.

St. Joseph Municipal Band

The City of St. Joseph offers municipal band concerts every Sunday throughout the summer months. Conveniently located downtown at Port Street and Lake Boulevard, the municipal band concerts take place at the John E. N. Howard Band Shell. Its namesake, John Howard, was conductor of the municipal band beginning in 1948 through 1987; also, he was the St. Joseph High School band director until he retired in 1963.

Recreational programs including the Summer Recreational Program and the Summer Tennis program are managed by the Parks Department. If you visit the Parks Department, you will find relevant forms for registration for and information about these programs.

St. Joseph, known for its abundant natural resources and great picturesque landscapes, makes a wonderful place to get married. St. Joseph has been nationally acclaimed as "Michigan's Most Romantic City" by the Detroit Free Press and the "Riviera of the Midwest" by the Fine Living Channel.

Other Links

Government - St. Joseph's prosperity depends on each of its citizens taking an active role in making our town a special place on the lake. Find out more about what's going on with the City Commission, take a look at City Commission agendas, catch up on the latest City notices, announcements or ordinances, and view local election information.

Elections & Voting

Any United States citizen who is at least 18 years of age by the date of the next election and who is a resident of the State of Michigan and the City of St. Joseph may register to vote in the City of St. Joseph by completing a Voter Registration Application.

You can register to vote at any Secretary of State Branch office, the County Clerk's Office, or the St. Joseph City Clerk's Office. If you are unable to go to any of these offices to register, please contact your local Clerk at (269) 983-6325.

If you are registered to vote and have moved or changed your name, you must contact your local Clerk's office to ensure that your registration is correct. Voters who have registered at least 30 days prior to an election may exercise their right to vote by appearing at the polls on Election Day or by obtaining an absent voter ballot.

Elections

Michigan Election Law provides that elections must be held on only four (4) predetermined dates throughout the year:

Absent Voter Ballots

A voter may request an Absent Voter Ballot for any of the following reasons:

60 years of age or older; or

Absent from the community the entire time the polls are open on election day; or

Physically unable to attend the polls without the assistance of another; or

Cannot attend the polls because of the tenets of your religion; or

Have been appointed an election precinct inspector in a precinct other than the precinct where you reside; or

Cannot attend the polls because you are confined to jail awaiting arraignment or trial.

Absent Voter Ballots may be requested from the local clerk by completing and returning an Absent Voter Ballot Application. Be sure to include your name, your registered address, phone number, the address you would like the ballot sent to and your reason for the request. If you would like to have your name placed on our permanent Absent Voter List, please complete and return the Permanent Absent Voter Request, this will ensure that you automatically receive an Absent Voter Ballot Application prior to each election.

Election Inspectors

The City Clerk's office is always looking for citizens available to serve as election inspectors. Election Inspectors are citizens who are paid to assist voters at the polls on Election Day. The City of St. Joseph has three (3) voting precincts, all of which must be maintained by inspectors for each election. In addition, the City maintains an Absent Voter Counting Boards to process all Absent Voter Ballots. If you are a registered voter and are interested in serving as an Election Inspector, please complete and return an Election Inspector Application.

City Commissioners are elected in November of odd numbered years. A Primary Election will be held in August whenever more than two candidates qualify as nominees for each office to be filled.

Each year, the St. Joseph City Commission appoints citizens who express an interest in serving on the numerous boards, commissions and committees that are so vital in helping shape the future of the City of St. Joseph.

If you have a willingness to voluntarily serve your Community in this capacity and have a particular interest or knowledge in any of the following areas, you may wish to contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for an application to seek an appointment. Questionnaires are also available for those members seeking re-appointment to a City board, commission or committee.

This provides a link to all legislation received by Municipal Code since the last update (printed or electronic) to the Code of Ordinances. This legislation has been enacted, but has not yet been codified. Each piece of legislation, where applicable, is also linked to the portion of the Code that it affects.

The File section is a list of FAQs under the How Do I? heading that would start with the phrase "How do I file...?". Listed below you will find links of these FAQs that will redirect you to the area of the website with the answer to your question. If you have any further concerns or questions about this particular section or the questions it contains please feel free to contact the City (269-983-5541) and we will be happy to assist you.

The Purchase section is a list of FAQs under the How Do I? heading that would start with the phrase "How do I purchase...?". Listed below you will find links of these FAQs that will redirect you to the area of the website with the answer to your question. If you have any further concerns or questions about this particular section or the questions it contains, please feel free to contact the City online or call the Clerk's Office at (269)-983-6325.

The Report section is a list of FAQs under the How Do I? heading that would start with the phrase "How do I report...?". Listed below you will find links of these FAQs that will redirect you to the area of the website with the answer to your question. If you have any further concerns or questions about this particular section or the questions it contains please feel free to contact the City (269-983-5541) and we will be happy to assist you.

2017 CSO Project Update 7-17-17

The Riviera of the Midwest

St. Joseph is carefully nestled on the southern tip of what has been termed "The Riviera of the Midwest." This deepwater port town is a growing resort community - part of a "small town" chain stretching from the state line in a spectacular arc along Lake Michigan. The lakeshore is peppered with remarkable sand dune formations and lined further inland with a lush countryside that produces some of the nation's finest orchards and vineyards. It is the largest non-citrus fruit growing region in the nation.

Located just 90 miles from downtown Chicago, St. Joseph is a quaint community situated within the larger Benton Harbor/St. Joseph MSA. The City of St. Joseph has continually operated at full economic capacity.

St. Joseph is the county seat for Berrien County, a distinction maintained since 1894. St. Joseph has prospered over the years by encouraging a balanced mix of industrial, commercial, and residential development.

St. Joseph has become well known for its beautiful location along Lake Michigan, its quality public school system, its health care system, its beaches, parks, and other natural amenities, and its affluent community. The presence of many large corporations causes the city's population to triple during the average workday. St. Joseph has become the ideal location for many second-home buyers, with a strong attraction from the Chicago area.

Tourists come to St. Joseph every year by the tens of thousands to enjoy the beaches, Lake Michigan, the St. Joseph River, downtown shopping, festivals and more. Silver Beach County Park in downtown St. Joseph attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, and the number of visitors continues to grow. Annual festivals in St. Joseph continue to draw increasing numbers of tourists to the community.